Piano action



March 18, 1947. c sog 2,417,666

PIANO ACTION Filed July 21, 1944 Patented Mar. 18, 1947 PIANO ACTION Francis 0. Socin, St. Charles, 111., assignor to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation Application July 21, 1944, Serial No. 545,901

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an upright piano action and particularly of a drop action type applicable to the small or spinet type of upright pianos, reference being had to my Letters Patent No. 2,324,037, issued July 13, 1943, for Piano action.

The feature of the invention resides in the op erative connection between the piano key and the wippen actuating sticker or drop lever through which movement is transmitted from the key to the action. More particularly, the invention resides in the provision of a wooden insert projecting from the actuating end of the piano key for providin bearing support upon Which a flexible bearing lock is mounted for receiving and cushioning a squared bearing head on a screw adjustable in the upper end of the sticker.

By means of this arrangement, a simple and inexpensive actuating connection is made between the key and the sticker which readily permits of connection and disconnection therebetween, as well as accessibility for such adjustment as may be necessary to align the keys.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claim:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a piano action showing a unit thereof with a portion of its associated actuating piano key.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the key and bearing support with the bearing lock thereon.

Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 2 showing the hearing head supported by the bearing lock.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the adjusting screw and squared bearing head.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the flexible bearing look.

In the drawings there is shown a unit of a piano action including an action rail l0, frame structure ll, lower supporting rail I2 and upper rail l3, all associated and arranged in the usual manner with respect to the piano strings I l.

The action is of the usual character embodying the hammer [5 associated with a damper l6 and back check I! supported on a wippen Ill. The wippen is fulcrumed at I9 on the rail Ill by the usual flange, and has pivotally mounted thereon the usual jack 20 for driving the hammer butt 2|.

Associated with said piano action there is provided the usual piano key 22 which is fulcrumed about the hinged pins 23 intermediate its ends upon the keyboard 24 mounted on the key bed 25. The actuating end of said key 22 is provided with a wooden insert 26 which is bifurcated to provide a bearing seat having an end opening. Said support is mounted on the key at a slight angle and is arranged to receive a flexible bearing lock 28. Said lock extends over the bifurcated portion or slot opening from the end of the support and is formed with a central hole 29 with which a slit 311 communicates.

The bearing lock may be formed of any suitable material such as felt, leather, rubber or the like to provide a cushion seat as well as a bearing lock for a squared bearing head 3| preferably formed integrally with an adjusting screw 32. Said screw is adjustably screwed into the upper end of the sticker or drop lever 33 to provide adjustable relation between the bearing head and the sticker. The lower end of said sticker is curved upwardly to provide a toe having engagement with the padded under-surface of the wippen l8. Said toe is pivotally connected by the link 34 to the lower supporting rail i2. Upon actuation of the key the bearing support is raised to in turn lift the bearing head and sticker to actuate the wippen and the associated piano action to move the hammer into striking engagement with the string.

By reason of the above structure the bearing head 3| is formed integral with the screw and is squared to provide convenient wrench engagement accessible for adjustment in aligning the keys. The wrench engageable head also serves as the bearing engaging element for direct action between the key and the sticker. It may be rounded at its base. as indicated at 35 to permit of a. slight y rocking action relative to the bearing support.

The flexible bearing lock 28 is fitted snugly upon the seat of the bearing support 26 adjacent the end of the key. The flexibility of the lock not only serves as a cushion for the bearing support but also acts to lock the adjusting screw in position for proper alignment of the sticker. Thus the hole 29 formed in the lock is of just the diameter to receive and grip the shank of the screw and center it in position. However, the screw may be removed therefrom through the slot 30 against the resistance of the flexible material of wh ch the lock is formed.

By means of the above structure not only is the bearing head readily engageable for screw adjustment, but a cushioned bearing, centering member and retaining lock is provided from which it is readily removable.

The invention claimed is:

.A piano drop action having a wippen and a rigid sticker extending under and into engageslot against the flexing resistance thereof, and a 10 Number squared wrench engageable head formed on the upper end of said screw for effecting adjustment of said screw relative to said sticker, said head having cushioned bearing engagement with said bearing lock.

FRANCIS C. SOCIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 2,061,154 Heitzmann Nov. 17, 1936 2,156,963 Betz May 2, 1939 2,324,037 Socin July 13, 1943 2,193,715 Drusmore Mar. 12, 1940 

